Taylor mounting write-in campaign

Barred under DPW rules from mounting a campaign from the convention floor to retain her party post, state Sen. Lena Taylor of Milwaukee is mounting a write-in campaign to remain 1st vice chair.

Taylor has a booth set up at the convention center and is urging delegates to cross out Melissa Schroeder's name on the ballot tomorrow and write in hers instead.

She's also handing out the above sticker to delegates.

Taylor complained that Milwaukee does not have any representation in the leadership of the Assembly or Senate and won't have a spot on the party leadership slate either unless she keeps her post.

"They're not allowing me to run from the from, so it's my only choice," Taylor said of the write-in campaign. "I think the people should decide."

UPDATE: Taylor dropped a reference to her write-in campaign during her 1st vice chair report from the podium.

Taylor spent most of her speech praising gains Dems have made in the Legislature and the party's leaders. At the very end, she said she had been honored to serve as the party's first vice chair and and that she has been "working for you on the front lines" as a state senator.

She promised to keep up the fight whether vice chair or not and praised Schroeder as "great" and said Dems would be in great hands whoever serves in the position.

"But I'm asking you to strike for Talyor," she said before leaving the stage.

-- By JR Ross